Mindy Norton

Host: Speaking of Pets

Mindy Norton

Mindy Norton has been “Speaking of Pets” on Alabama Public Radio since 1995.

She grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and graduated from UAB. She got her first real pet at the age of 9 when her family adopted a mixed Boston Terrier pup they named “Scamp”. As an adult, a friend invited her to help with a humane society event, and that was the beginning of her involvement with group efforts to help animals. Since then, she has been on the boards of directors of three animal welfare organizations, serving as president of two of them.

For seven years, Mindy wrote and recorded a weekday spot called “Pet Patrol” for Birmingham’s WBHM Public Radio, for which she won an Obelisk Award in 1979. After she and her husband (and three cats) moved to Tuscaloosa, she talked the station manager at the time into giving her two minutes every Saturday morning to talk about pets and pet care.

Since 2006, “Speaking of Pets” has been available as a podcast, consistently one of APR’s most popular offerings. (In fact, staff members have referred to her as the “podcast queen”!) That’s no surprise to Mindy who believes the reason for its popularity is the subject matter. “After all,” she says, “I get to talk about our best friends every week!”

Her APR spot about the link between animal abuse and cruelty toward humans has been featured on the American Humane Association’s website. As a volunteer, Mindy feels she is so blessed to have a soap box with a microphone in front of it – plus, she gets to help two causes at the same time, animal welfare and Alabama Public Radio.

The 2014 Hero Dog Awards seek to find and recognize dogs who help people in many important ways. Dogs are nominated in one of eight categories: Service Dogs, Emerging Hero Dogs, Law Enforcement Dogs, Arson Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Military Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs, and Guide/Hearing Dogs.

The Service Dog category includes animals that assist people with disabilities other than sight and hearing. Most have received special training.

Generally, the DEA does not approve of storing or transporting controlled substances in vehicles, but for those in the veterinary profession that can be a necessity if they are going to effectively treat their animal patients.

Hot spots are more than just a nuisance; they can cause your dog some real discomfort. Some owners of long-haired dogs get their pets clipped for the summer just to make sure the dog's heavy coat can't trap and hold moisture in the hot weather.

Some folks consider cats to be aloof and one-dimensional, but those of us who have feline family members know they are funny, affectionate, playful and, yes, independent. But that very spirit that makes them independent also helps to make them lower maintenance pets when compared to, say, dogs.

The most common cause of heat stroke in a pet is leaving it in a parked car on a warm (not necessarily hot) day. If it's too hot for you to sit in a closed car (or one with the windows slightly cracked), it's too hot for your furry friend.

Having supplies packed and ready to go in case of an emergency can make necessary evacuations easier on everyone. It also helps to practice so you and your pet both know what to expect if and when the real emergency occurs.

Many of us refer to our pets as our best friends, but a 4-year-old boy can claim his cat is not only his best friend but his hero. She proved that the human-animal bond is strong, and that cats can be just as loyal and protective as their canine counterparts!

In the pet world, Mother's Day has a very different connotation from that in the human experience. Most pet mothers never get to see their babies grow up. This Mother's Day, consider things from your pet's point of view. Make plans to keep your pet from becoming a mother by having her spayed.

The puppies and kittens you see at your local animal shelter are the lucky ones, because they are up for adoption. (The unlucky ones never made it that far.) But even those who did make it to the adoption area still may not find homes. That's the sad reality of pet overpopulation.

For years people believed that interaction with companion animals was helpful for children with autism, providing them with unconditional love, nonjudgemental friendship, and social interaction. A new study shows that dogs can provide very real benefits for these children.

The arson dog training program, sponsored by State Farm Insurance, has put more than 300 dogs to work in over 40 states and several Canadian provinces. These special animals are an arsonist's worst nightmare and a firefighter's best friend. Readers of the Washington Post agree, voting the National Fire Dog Monument as the top monument in Washington, DC!

Research has shown that interaction between humans and animals can make learning a positive experience for children. That's the basis behind the Book Buddies program that started late last summer in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, near Reading, PA.

Does your pet become anxious in response to loud noises (like thunderstorms)? Most animal experts recommend not cuddling and hugging an anxious pet lest you reinforce the negative response. So what's a caring pet owner supposed to do with a cowering, trembling furry friend who is obviously afraid of the noise?

Spaying female pets and neutering male pets is the most reliable way to prevent the births of companion animals that continue to add the the problem of pet overpopulation. World Spay Day reminds us that this is not a local problem but a global one. And every pet owner can help to do something about it!

Westminster Kennel Club has a tradition that goes back more then 130 years, but in 2014 it's not the purebred dogs that are capturing news headlines but the mutts that are making a showing in the WKC's first time ever agility competition.

When we think of a smiling cat, we might think of the Cheshire Cat, whose beautiful smile was the only thing visible when he disappeared. Sadly, for the majority of both cats and dogs kept as pets, their teeth are not so healthy. It's up to you to make sure your pet's smile is bright and clean!

A cat's nature is to hunt, stalk, mark territory, but living indoors can limit its opportunities follow its instincts. You can help your cat live a happier and healthier life if you find ways to make your home more "friendly" for your feline resident.